Tortilla-forming machine.



T. RIOS.

TORTILLA FORMING MACHINE.

WITNESSES:

T. RIOS.

TORTILLA FORMING MACHINE. `APPLICATION FILED rIuG,2,19I5.

II 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:INVENTOR T@ I I Patented Apr. 23; 1918.

T. RIOS.

TORTILLA FORMING MACHINE. APPLICATION Ar|LED.uG.2.19L=,.

'ITNESSES: INVENTOR BY MyW/wam@ ,Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

T. RIOS.

ToRTlLLA FoRMlNG MACHINE.'

. APPLICATION FILED AUG.2, 1915.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

-5 SHEETS-SHEET. 4.

v IN VEN'OI( Momajio.

BY MGM 'BTNESSES:

T. RIOS.

TORULLA FURMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2,19I5.

Patented Apr. 23. 191,8,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

VITNESSES: INVESTOR THOMAS RICS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONIEl-IHAIILI` 'IO 1D. F. BERNAL, 0F LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA. i

TCRTIILA-FORMING IVIACHINE.

' Specification. of Letters Patent. y Patm-gqdl Apr, 23, 119mm Application filed August 2, 1915. Serial No. 43,059.

simple, substantial, automatically operated machine provided with means, rst, for de-v livering measured quantities of dough, second, with means for rolling and forming the ,dough into cakes of lequal thickness, and, third, to provide means for turning and baking the cakes in such a manner as to retain the full corn flavor and improve the general -quality of the product. objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction andcombination of parts slicing knife and connected operating mechtill as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with parts broken away.

Fig.' 2 is a sidev elevation with broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the feeding end of the machine, partly broken away. l l

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 `is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is .a side elevation of the dough parts anism.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged end view of the knife wiping mechanism.

Fig. 8 yis anenlarged section on line 8 8, lFig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged 'end view of the knife.

In the accompanying drawings, a machine This is accomplished in the following man ner: A indicates a mainframe, on one .end

` of which is mounted'a super-frame 2. Suit-- ably secured in the super-frame is a Cylin- Further l der 3 which is adapted to receive the dough.

This cylinder is open at both ends, but the lower end is provided with an inwardly turned flange 4c (see Fig. 6) which is provided for the purpose of holding the dough or preventing it from` dropping'out too freely. For forcing the dough out of the lower discharge end of the cylinder in predetermined quantities a piston 5 has `been provided.

In order to move the piston in a downward direction to force the dough out of the discharge end of-the cylinder in predetermined quantities, it is necessary to transmit an intermittent movement to the piston. This is accomplished as follows: Secured on the piston is a rack barV 6 which is so posi- 'tionedas to engage with a gear 7, mounted in a bracket 8 on the upper end of the superframe 2. Secured on the outer end of shaft 9, which carries thegear 7, is a worm wheel 10, and intermeshing with said Worm wheel to turn the shaft and gear 7 is a worm gear 11 which is secured on a vertically disposed V shaft 12 journaled on one side of the superframe. Secured on the lower end of shaft 12 is a4 ratchet gear 18, and turnable on the shaft and straddling the gear 13 is a f0rk- `shaped lever 14.-, in which is pivotally mounted a pawl 15. The fork-shaped lever is oseillated by means of a link 16 which is connectedto the upper end of a rocker arm 18 pivotally mounted, as at 20, on the side of the super-frame.

Journaled in the super-frame are three `drums 21, 22 and 28 which are driven in unison by means of the connected gear trains 24 and sprocket chains 25, which in turn are driven from a main power shaft 26. Secured on one end of drum 21 is a plurality of pins 27 which are-so positioned `as to engage the lower end of lever 18. Re-

volving movement of drum -21 will cause the pins 27 to rock lever 18 and connected link 16, causing the pawl 15 to engage the ratchet gear and rotate the shafts 12 and 9. This will cause the rack bar and connected piston to move in a 'downward direction at intermittent intervals. The dough contained within the cylinder is forced through :the lower discharge end of the cylinder and is here sliced 0H by the reciprocating cutter which is constructed as follows: Mounted on each side of the dough receiving hopf per, or directly inside of the channel beams of frame A, (see Figs. and 6) is a pair of guide rods 28, and slidably mou nted on said rods is a carriage which consists of a pair of sliding blocks 29 connected by means of a rod 30. This rod is pivotally mounted in the sliding blocks and the central section of the rod is provided with two upwardly extending lugs 31, between which is strung a wire 32, the tension of which may be adjusted by means of a screw 33.

ecured at each end of the rod is a downwardly projecting nger 34 one of which is engageable with a stop 35, at one end of the stroke, and the other finger 34 with a stop 36 at the other end. The inger which engages the forward stop 35 has its free terminal curved, as shown in Fig. 6, to ride downwardly on said stop and eliect a partial rotation of the rod 30 to swing or depress the lugs 31 with their cutting wire for permitting of the cutter passing freely beneath the hopper onits return stroke. T he nger arranged to engage stop 33 is oppositely curved, as depicted in Fig. 8, to ride downwardly thereon and return the cutter to upright position ready for another slicing operation. Secured on one end of the drum 22 is a plurality of outwardly projecting pins 22', and journaled crosswise 'of the frame,

below the 4drum 22, is a shaft 35a, on each end of which is secured a bell crank 36a. @ne end o each bell crank extends upwardly in a position where the revolving movement of drum 22 will bring the pins into engagement with the lower ends of the bell cranks 36a, thus moving the crank arms in the direction of arrow a (see Fig. 6). The other'end of each bell crank is connected with a coil spring 37 which moves the bell cranks back into engagement with the pins on the drum 22. The bell cranks are thus constantly rocked while the drum is rotating. This rocking movement is transmitted through links 38,- the inner .ends of which are connected, one to 'each sliding block 29. The reciprocating movement is in this manner transmitted to the sliding blocks 29, with connected rod 30 and wire cutter 32,' causing the wire to' pass directly under the discharge end of the cylinder and slice off the dough as it is being forced lout by the action of piston 5.

The lugs 31,V on rod 30, upon. which the wire cutter is secured assumes the vertical position indicated in Fig. 6 when it is moved 1n the'direction of arrow b,- the wire slicing od the dough when movin in this direction. The wire or cutter wil then be depressed, as above set forth, for moving back, this being necessary to clear the dough which is being discharged or pressed out of the hopper.

For the purpose of cleaning the wire or cutter 32, after each reciprocation, a wiper, indicated at39, has been provided,

wiper consists of a plurality of layers of felt or like material which is secured to a carriage 40, mounted upon the rod 41 disposed transversely of the frame 2. This carriage is reciprocated every time the wire' ter 32 is a conveyer belt 45 which moves in the direction of the arrow. This belt is r0- vided for the purpose of removing the sliced sections of dough and .also for conveying Vthe sliced sections to a point where they may be rolled or flattened out to the desired thickness before they are deposited upon the baking belts hereinafter to be described. This is accomplished as follower. The conveyer belt 45 is preferably constructed ot a light fabric, such as linen cloth or like material, and is driven by means of the drum 23. The opposite end of the belt passes over a roller 46, a guide rod 47 and a roller 48. It then passes under a spray pipe, indicated at 49, and a squeezing -roller 50. A second belt 53 of similar construction passing over and driven by drum 21 has its opposite end passing over a roller 51. It then passes under a spray pipe 52, similar to spray pipe 49. -These spray pipes are provided for forcing water through the interstices of the fabric to remove any Hour or dough which might otherwise accumulate. Any superfluous amount of water left in belt 53 is removed by a squeezing roller 5.1 and any superfluous amount of water left in belt 45 is removedl by the squeezing roller 50; the water thus removed being collected by pans, such as indicated at 54. The conveyer belt 45 and belt 53 are thus automatically cleaned as they pass over their adjacent drums and guide rollers and all accumulations which might have a tendency to collect are constantly removed. The degree of compression of squeeze roller 50 is controlled by `the weighted lever 50 while roller 51l is adjustable toward or from roller 51 by the screw 51 disclosed in Fig. 3.

The sliced sections of dough delivered to the belt 45. will not only be handled in a sanitary way but will also be prevented rom sticking to the belts, as the belts are always clean and supplied with sufficient moisture to prevent adhesion. The drums 21 and 22, over and between which the belts .45 and .5.3 Pass, er@ Previded .fer telling out driving shaft b incassa the dough, or, in other words, pressing it to the desired thickness. The dough cakes, after being rolled out by the drums 2l and 22, are carried by the belt to the roller 46 where they are permitted to slide down over the guide rod 47 to a point where they are deposited upon an endless flexible metallic conveying belt 56. This belt is carried by rollers 57 and 58, andthe belt is continuously heated by means of aplurality of gas burners, such as indicated at 59.

The cakes deposited 0n the belt will be baked on one side and will then be automatically discharged and turned before they are delivered to a second endless flexible metallic conveyer, indicated at 60. The

turning of the cakes, when being transferred from one belt to the other, is accomplished by means lof a turning plate 61. The cakes delivered to belt'60 are then conveyed in the direction of arrow c over a plurality of burners ,62 and one side of the cake is here completely baked. rlFhe cakes are then discharged at the opposite end and again turned by a plate 63 and finally delivered to a belt 64 which is heated bymeans of burners 65. The sides -of the cakes which are first partly baked on the upper belt are here completely baked and the cakes are finally dischargedat the opposite end of the belt and taken away from the machine in any suitable manner, or as' here shown by a belt 64a. Suitably arranged hoods 90 are provided above the belts for collecting and conducting away the gases and vapors.

The baking belts provided consist of connected sections of thin sheet iron, but may be constructed in any suitable manner. They are al1 driven in unison and at approximately the same speed from the main means of the gears, indicated at 70 an 471, and are supported at I 'suitable intervals, intermediate of the driving pulleys, by means of belt tighteners 72 which not only serve to support the intermediate sections` of belt but also automatically take up any slack,- due to expansion, when the belts are heated by the several burners. l

The' dough from which tortillas are baked consists largely of corn-meal and contains a high percentage of water. The baking of the cakes presents moreor less of a problem as the cakes are verybrittle and must be cooked or baked in approximately the -following manner: The cake delivered by the conveyer'45 to the first baking belt 56 is firstslightly baked on one side.

'lhe cake is thendelivered to the second belt which is approximately twice as long as the first belt.

.The cake is here subjected to baking action which completes ,the baking` of one side of the cake and also cooks the interior of same. This is necessary in order to retain the corn coming tough. rllhe steam generated .inside of the cake thoroughly cooks it and the slight crust formed by the first operation prevents steam from escaping too freely and also prevents the aroma and Havorof the corn from escaping.

The cake is then delivered to the third and last belt 64 where the bakin action is completed and the cake is final y permitted to discharge at the point indicated at 73 and delivered to a conveyer'or like device, not here shown," whichcarries the product away from the machine. The baking operation just described is a mechanical imitation of the method employed by the natives and :the product produced is, if anything, superior, as every cakel is subjected to exactly the same treatment.

To preventl the dough from discharging too freely through the lower end of the hopper or cylinder 3 a valve 5a has been provided in the piston 5. This valve permits the air to escape when the piston is forced down into contact with the l:dough body within .the cylinder and automatically closes the moment the air has been dispelled. The main bodyl of dough is retained by vacuum and cannot discharge fasterv than it 1s expelled by the piston.

TheV machine here shown is simple and compact in construction and positively automatic in'operation. The only manual labor required in connection with'its operation 1s the fillingof the dough receiving hopper or cylinder 3 from time to time as the contents is completely discharged. n

The materials and finish of the several parts ofthe machine are such as the Judgment and .experience of the manufacturer may dictate. .l wish it understood that v arious changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and

that I do not Wish to limit myself to they specific design and construction here s hown. Referring tothe enlarged de tail view of Fig. 9, it will be seen that a coil Spring 32a has beenhinterposed between the two end y supporting members 3]. upon which the cutting wire 32 is mounted; thepurpose pf the spring 32 being to automatically maintaln lllb aiixed tension ou the cutting wire and also to prevent breaking or undue straining of same.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, 1t will be seen a comparatively sharp angle. as indicated at 53a: this being accomplished by providing a pairjof guide members 80, under and over which the belt may pass. 'Ifhis com paratively sharp turn' or upward rise 1n the belt is provided for the purpose of prevent'- inn` any cakes adhering to theI 'upper belt. The moment the belt passes under the first guide member it takes such a sharp turn limi that the upper belt 53 is turned upwardly at -v or upward rise that any cakes that might have a tendency to adhere to the belt are immediately peeled o' or liberated as the belt turns.

In actual practice it has been found that the first baking operation of the individual cakes while passing over belts 56' and 60 causes a skin to form on the exterior of the cake. This skin prevents the steam generated within the cake from escaping, consequently causing the cake to swell or puff up to a considerable extent. For thepurpose of removing the 'steam and again flattening out the cake,.a weighted roller 81 has been provided. This roller is loosely mounted in guide brackets 82 directly over the lower belt 64. Every cake supported by the belt 64 and traveling with same is consequently forced under roller 81. As this is sulliciently heavy, it causes each succeeding cake to be iattened by forcing out the steam contained therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a baking machine, a dough receiving hopper, a plunger movable in the hopper to force the dough therefrom, superposed endless conveyers having parallel lengths between which the dough is adapted to travel, guide means for abruptly dividing the length of the upper conveyer and separating one division of the length from the lower conveyer, and means for washing the separated division of the specified length.-

2. In a baking machine, a dough receiving hopper having a discharge opening formed in its lower end, a plunger movable in the hopper to force the dough through the discharge opening, means for moving the piston at timed intervals a predetermined distance to discharge a predetermined quantity of dough, a carriage slidably mounted below the hopper, means for reciprocating the carriage with relation to the discharge opening in the hopper, a frame tiltably mounted inthe carriage, a knife comprising a wire secured in said frame, means for tilting the frame to move the wire into cutting position when the carriage moves in one direction under the discharge opening, means for tilting the frame in the opposite direction to lower the wire 4out of cutting position when the carriage moves in the opposite direction, and cleaning means operable in a defined path for wiping the wire after each cutting operation and prior to the operatlon of said wire lowering means. .Y

3. .In a b king machine, a dough receiving hopper having a discharge opening formed in its lower end, a plunger movable in the hopper to force the dough through the discharge opening, means for moving the pisneeaeae 'wire secured in said frame, means for tilting the frame to move the wire into cutting position when the carriage moves in one direction under the discharge opening, means for tilting the frame in the opposite direction to lower the wire out of cutting position when the carriage moves in the opposite direction.

4. In a baking machine, a dough receiving hopper having a discharge opening formed in its lower end, a plunger movable in the hopper to force the dough through the discharge opening, means for moving the piston at timed intervals a predetermined distance to discharge a predetermined quantity of dough, a carriage slidably mounted below the hopper, means for reciprocating the carriage with relation to the discharge opening in the hopper, a frame freely and tiltably mounted in the carriage, a knife comprising a wire secured in said frame, means normally free of the framefor tilting the frame to move the wire into cutting position when the carriage moves in one direction under the discharge opening, means normally free of the frame for tilting the frame in the opposite direction to lower the wire out of cutting position when the carriage moves in the opposite direction. 5. In a baking machine, a dough receiving hopper yhaving a discharge opening formed in its lower end, a plunger movable in the hopper t0 force the dough through the discharge opening, means for moving the piston at timed intervals a predetermined distance to discharge a predetermined quantity of dough, a carriage slidably mounted below the hopper, means for reciprocating the carriage with relation to the discharge opening in the hopper, a frame tiltably mounted in the carriage, and a knife comprising a single length of wire secured in said frame and including a spring portion.

` 6. In a baking machine, a dough receiving hopper having a discharge opening formed in its lower end, a plunger movable in the hopper to force the dough through the discharge opening, means for moving the piston at timed intervals a predetermined distance to discharge a predetermined quantity of dough, a carriage slidably mounted below the hopper, means for reciprocating the carriage with relation to the discharge opening in the hopper', a frame tiltably mounted in the carriage, a knife comprising a yieldable wire secured in said frame, means normally spaced 4from the Vfratrie for tilting the frame of a carriage reciprocally mounted below the discharge Opening, a rod pivotally\mounted in the carriage, a pair of upwardly extending lugs 0n said rod, a single length of wire including a'resilient portion between its ends strungover and secured in said lugs, said wire adapted to slice off the dough discharging from the hopper, and means for reciprocating vthe carriage.

8. In a baking machine, the combination' with a dough lcontaining hopper having a discharge Opening formed therein and means for forcing the dough therethrough, of a carriage reciprocally mounted below the discharge opening, a rod pivotally mounted in the carriage, a pair ofv upwardly extending lugs onsaid rod, a wire strun over and secured in said lugs, said wire adapted to'slice oi the dough discharging from the hopper, a pair of trip fingers secured on the pivotally mounted rod, a stop member arranged at each limit of movement ofthe carriage, one finger being engageable with a stop at one reciprocation of the carriage and the other finger being engageable with the other stop on the succeeding reciprocation ofthe carriage to turn the rod and wire into and out ofl slicing position, and ,means for reciprocating the carriage. A

9. In a baking machine, the combination with a dough containing hopper having a discharge opening formed therein and means for forcing the dough therethrough, of a carriage reciprocally vmounted below the discharge opening, a rod pivotally mounted in the carriage, a pair of upwardly extendmeans for'wiping od the wire after eaching lugs on said rod, a wire strung over and secured in said lugs, -said wire adapted to slice 0H' the dough discharging from the hopper, ya pair of angularly related trip fingers secured on the pivotally mounted rod, a pair of stopmembers with which said l fingers are engageable at' each complete reciprocation` of the carriage to turn the rod and wire into and out of slicing position, means for reciprocating. the carriage, and

slicing operation.

10. In a baking machine, the combination with a dough 'containing hopper having a discharge opening formed therein and means for forcing the dough therethrough, of a carriage reciprocally mounted below the discharge opening, a rod pivotally mounted in slicin carriage reciprocally mounted below the discharge opening, a rod pivotally mountedin the carriage, a pair of upwardly extending lugs on said rod, a wire includingra resilient portion strung over and secured in said lugs, Said wire adapted to slice 0H the dough discharging from the hopper, and means for varying the tension of the wire and its resilient portion.

12. In a baking machine, the combination with a dough containing hopper having a discharge opening formed therein and `means for forcing the dough therethrough,

of a carriage reciprocally mounted below the in the carriage, a pair of upwardly extending lugs on said rod, a wire strung over and secured in said lugs, said wire adapted to slice ofi the dough `discharging from the hopper, a pair of oppositely curved trip fingers secured Aon the pivotally mounted rod, a pair of stop members with which said fingers are engageable] at each complete Ieciprocation of the carriage `to turn the rod eo discharge opening, a rod pivotally mounted and wire into and out of slicing position,

, and means for reciprocating the carriage.

13. In a baking machine, a dough slicing device comprising a frame, a carriage slidably mounted in the frame, a rod turnably mounted in thecarriage, a pair of lugs on the rod, a cuttin or slicing wire strung over and secured on t e lugs, finger means secured on the rod, and a pair of stop members in the frame engageable with the finger means at each limit of movement of the carriage Idd illllll? to turn therod and wire into and out of y position. 14.

ably mounted in the frame, a rod mounted n a baking machine, a dough slicing device comprising a frame,y a carriage slidin the carriage, a pair of lugs on the rod,

in its length and a cutting wire including between .and

a yieldable portion stretche secured on the lugs.

15. In a baking machine, the combination with a dough containing hopper having a discharge opening formed therein, and means for forcing the dough therethrough, of a carriage reciprocally mounted below the discharge s opening, a rod pivotally mounted in the carriage, a. pair of upwardly eiitendinoi lugs on said rod, a wire strung` over an secured in said lugs, said wire adapted to slice ed' the dough discharging illb l from the hopper, a flexible section formed integral insaid wire between its ends, a`

trip finger securedA on the pivotally mounted rod, a pair of stop members with which said ngeris engageable at each reciprocation of the carria e`to turn the rod and wire into and out o slicing position, and means for reciprocating the carriage.

16. In a baking machine, the combination from the hopper, a coil spring interposed between the ends of said wire, and formed integral therewith, a trip finger secured on the vivotally mounted rod, a pair of stop mem ers with which said finger is engageablefat each reciprocation of the carriage to turn the rod and wire into and out of slicing position, and means for reciprocating thev carriage.

17. In a bakingvmachine, a dough receiv,

ing hopper, a plunger movable in the hopper to force the dough therefrom, superposed endless conveyers having coperating lengths between which the dough is adapted to travel, and guidenieans for abruptly separating the lower length of the upper conveyer rom the upper length of the lower conveyer and for dividing the length of said u pper conveyer whereby the latter will contmue to move in the same direction over f the upper length of the lower conveyer.

18. In a baking machine, dough feeding means, a reciprocatory cutter for severing aaespae the dough from said means, a. reciprocate@ wiper mounted for movement transverse to that of the cutter and arranged at one limit of travel thereof to be engaged by the cutter upon reciproeation of the latter toward said limit of travel, and means for reciprocating the wiper when engaged by the cutter to clean the latter.

19. In a baking machine, a hopper, a pair of guide rods therebelow, a carriage reciprocable on the rods and including a pivotal rod, spaced lugs carried by the pivotal rod, a cutting wire supported by the lugs, a transversely arranged wiper support disposed in advance vof the carriage, a Wiper slidable on the wiper support and adapted to be engaged by the cutting wire on the completion of its operative stroke, and means for sliding the wiper when engaged by the wire.

20. In a baking machine, a hopper, a pair of guide rods therebelow, a carriage -reciprocable on the rods and including a pivotal rod, spaced lugs carried by the pivotal rod, a cutting wire supported by the lugs, stops carried by the opposite ends of said pair of guide rods, and curved fingers carried by the pivotal rod and adapted to engage the stops to rock the pivotal rod and its supported cutting wire, one of said iingers operating at one limit of a reciprocation of the carriage and the other finger operating at the opposite limit of movement of the carriage.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 'my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS rios. Witnesses W. W. HEALEY, M. E. EWING. 

